Okay enough about my old school work! from now on this blog will take environmentalism to from a micro level to a macro level, understanding issues that are affecting the environment at a global scale. With the recent Copenhagen meeting on a stand still (no matter what useless document they allegedly cooked up) it is up to us peoples of the world to pressure world leaders. This coming week I will cook up a document myself and try to analyze real problems and real solutions. STAY TUNED!

Students feedback on school environment

Photo by Luis Testa

LONG BEACH, Calif.- Student at California State University Long beach are greatfull to have an environmentaly consious school. Walking from one class to another, biology student Cherissa Goggian notices her surroundings and is aware of how her campus is being environmentally friendly.

“I see people sleeping on the benches over there and why would they sleep there if they didn’t think was nice, you know.” Gogggian said, she is one of 35,000 students at CSULB.

It also gives others like like computer engineering student Raul Gonzales an environment they can appreciate.
“It makes you feel good because it is open and there are plenty of trees to keep you company,” Gonzles said. “It is not like Cal State Fullerton.”



click here to hear sample audio

Long Beach State goes green

by: Luis Testa

LONG BEACH, Calif.(May 11, 2006)-If you are a student like myself, walking from class to class the environment can be the last thing on your mind. Especially when you are only conscious about the next homework assignment, test, or 15-page research paper. Not until I got the chance to get information on the five concerns that I highlighted on my first blog, I got the chance to realize how California State University Long beach is environmentally conscious.

Environmental impact

The “North East Campus Improvement” is the latest addition to CSULB, located in the northern two thirds of parking Lot 11, near the intersection of Palo Verde Avenue and Athenton Street. Campus officials like Vice President of Facilities Management and Physical Planning Scott Charmack are making sure it is being built according to regulation.

The multi-level parking structure is being built according to laws implemented by the state, Charmak said. This includes new type of storm traps and the minimizing of fly ash, but the main goal is to provide parking for the students and avoid disturbance of surrounding neighborhood, Charmak said.

Campus landscape

Chipped-up tree trimmings are being used across campus as mulch beds with the intention of recycling waste, Integrated Waste Manager Jon Root said.

“A lot of time when folks think about recycling, they think of cans, bottles and papers, but the reality is that there are many other things that we are generating,” Root said. “Landscape debris is certainly one of those high diverting materials.”

Because CSULB is a heavily landscaped campus, containing 321 developed acres,green waste is a large factor in the amount of waste produced, Root said. Grass clippings and landscape debris are included in the 400 tons diverted in to mulch to spread across campus lawns and plants, with intentions of making them look green and healthy.

This gives students like biology student Cherissa Gogian a chance to step back enjoy their surroundings.

“Here is nice, there is lots of green, you can also see cats and squealers around campus so you know is somewhat environmental friendly,” she said.

Environmental friendly projects

Water conservation at CSULB has taken the next step by installing 18 hands-free waterless urinals at one of its larges restrooms. That will save an estimated 810,000 gallons of water a year, Charmack said.

The new waterless urinals, made by C&L Supply Co. are located at the KKJZ building according to Facilities Management Director Robert Quirk, each of these waterless urinals will save an estimated 45,000 gallons of water a year.

Facilities Management ran a pilot for a period of six months at one of their own restrooms because they had to “take the responsibility for providing a good product,” Quirk said.

The project was funded with Incentive programs provided by California and Long Beach, currently the programs are still active and if the public accepts the project Facilities Management will supply the urinals to the pyramid restrooms, Quirk said.

“The conservation aspect is very important to us and to the region and to the state so always when we can, we participate in conservation programs,” Quirk said. “But saving money is also another aspect where we are always trying to reduce our cost so we can put money to other programs and these are both equally important.”

Students recycle

The Associate Student incorporated Recycling Center is encouraging students at CSULB to recycle by providing Jobs and giving student organizations to raise money for good causes.

The recycling center is run by students because they only hire students, this is the way its been since for almost 40 years, recycling coordinator Kristen Stava said. Students get involved by working here, and provides them with a place they could bring their bottles and cans for cash, Stava said.

Students that work for the recycling center like Kendal McCall feel it feels good to learn about recycling and the environment.

The recycling center can also give students a chance to compete in the recycling competition. It gives a chance for students to compete against each other every semester to win $350 for their organization, Stava said. However, the competition is not getting as much of a result as she hoped for, she said. She is thinking of discontinuing the program.

The most active clubs involved in the recycling competition this semester are Women's Studies Student Association, Long Beach Crew team, Circle K organization, Stava said.

Circle K Organization member Michael Raymundo encourages all his members to recycle within their dorms, and believe they should not be recycling because of a competition, but as an incentive of a good cause.

Other involvements with the Recycling Center include the Pyramid chapped top containers across the CSULB campus. The containers help boost up recycling across campus, since last year by adding 20 across campus they increased their recyclables from 900 pounds to one ton, Stava said. This year one of their main goals is to provide more of these containers, Stava said.

Asbestos

CSULB Safety and Risk Management is doing their best in complying with the asbestos
There is asbestos on campus, Environmental Compliance Specialist George Alfaro said. By applying their asbestos management plan and training employees to know what to look for, Alfaro said.

“Every time asbestos will be tampered with there is a process to ensure that any asbestos issues are addressed,” Alfaro said. “Our job is to make sure that no one will get exposed to asbestos.”

Originally all the campus was inspected and the results were places on the notification to employees, so that if there is ever any concern with the contact of asbestos the issue will be taken care of, Alfaro said.

“Since some students spend just as much time at the school as some teachers, I believe we should also be made more aware of the asbestos on campus, “ Business student Eric Garcia said.

According to Alvaro, they depend on students to go up to faculty if there is ever an incident involving asbestos.

There are five control methods that risk management uses to maintain asbestos from faculty and student contact is very efficient, Alfaro said. These five methods include encasement, encapsulation, removal, operation maintenance, and sampling, he said.

The five methods have been effective, since no students or faculty members have had any claims concerning asbestos in the last five years he has been involved with the University, Alfaro said.

For more information on these subjects, you can reach the California State University campus at 562.985.4111 or simply go to the University website at csulb.edu. For information on asbestos, campus projects and impact statements please visit the Physical Planning and Facilities Management Website at www.ppfm.csulb.edu.

contact writer at Ltesta@csulb.edu

Landscape

There are other ways schools are trying to recycle. Schools like California State University Long Beach are recycling grass and Tree trimmings which then are diverted in to mulch. This is an integrated effort done by CSULB Facility Management.

Tree trimmings are being chipped on campus and then spread around pant beds to adorn the grounds and help plant life grow better, Facilities Management manager Jon Root said. One of the main reasons that it is so important is because the CSULB campus is heavily landscaped, having close to 321 developed landscape acres.

Photo By Luis Testa

To find out more on this story please click on bottom link

http://www.csulb.edu/~d49er/archives/2006/spring/news/v12n98-plant.shtml

Today, trying to find information on asbestos in the campus buildings, I came across an awkward situation trying to speak to someone about the issue. When calling office of safety and risk management Director, Maryann Rozanski, I was left speechless when she stopped me while I was introducing myself. She actually finished my sentence for me. I guess every semester, students call asking to gather information about asbestos. This has made me realize that it is an ongoing issue on the campus and it is important that journalism students report the issue. Yearly notification letters are sent to employees so they can be aware of the presence of asbestos and it is important that students also become aware, and the job is left to students like me to inform the issue to students.

click here for CSULB 2006 asbestos information
http://ppfmapps.ppfm.csulb.edu/web/docs/EMPLOYEE%20NOTIFICATION%20LETTER-2006.pdf

revised April 20, 2006

Water Saving Innovations

LONG BEACH, Calif.-- Water conservation at California State University Long Beach has been taken the next step by installing 18 Hands-free waterless urinals at one of their largest restrooms that will save an estimated 810 thousand gallons of water a year.

The New waterless urinals, made by C&L supply Co., are located at the KKJZ building and according to Facilities Management director Robert Quirk, each one of these waterless urinals will save up to 45,000 gallons of water a year.

After running a test pilot for over six months, the facilities decided to go and supply these to the campus public, knowing it will save money and conserve water, Quirk said.
.
“We installed two of them in our own corporate yard in the facilities department and had our staff utilize them and clean them for a period of six months,” Quirk said. “The manufacturers sell this as the greatest thing, but we have to take responsibility for providing a good product.”

Though the urinals may cause some sanitary concerns like odor and cleanliness, the technology of these new urinals promotes to isolate urine and sewer odors form the atmosphere with its revolutionary “BlueSeal,” according to C&L supply Co.

The entire project was funded trough incentive programs provided by the state of California and the city of Long Beach. Currently the facilities can still take advantage of this program, Quirk said. So if the project is accepted by the public, Facilities Management will look to supply the urinals to the pyramid restrooms.

Class Mate Interview

LONG BEACH, Calif.- As a child Bobby Chore, 20, dreamed of some day becoming a race car driver or football player, but never thought his life experiences would lead him to peruse a carrier as a Journalist and able him to write about the sports he loves.

Chore is journalism major at Cal State Long Beach and is trying to someday become a prestigious sports writer for ESPN Magazine. He wants to cover some of his favorite sports that include Football, Basketball and pool.

“That is all I love,” Chore said. “I want to be able to cover sports because it’s always exiting.” Especially when it involves his favorite teams at play, the Los Angeles Lakers and his hometown football team the San Diego Chargers.

Chore first became interested in journalism when he was in high school. Usually wrote for the school news paper on subjects that pertained to the student activities on campus he said. He did not begin his interest in sports-writing until his freshman year in college.

He feels confident that he can accomplish his goals, because of his friends and families which have always gave him the support he needs.

Growing up in San Diego, Chore said he was always active. Often found playing football with children from his neighborhood and local classmates. He also enjoyed riding his bicycle around town. Chore then moved to Culver City and then to Long Beach where he now resides with both his parents and sister.

Other than his love for sports Bobby enjoys Music. His favorite type of music is
Rap that is also part of his future goals.

“I want to produce music on the side,” Chore said. Depending on how well it all goes,
Chore plans to write music and produce local rap artists.

Chore believes that he has a special characteristic that can be sort of an advantage for his future musical goals. Within the last year he found out that he can make songs in his head.

“When I start working at my job, I get songs and make bits of music in my head.” He said. Something he calls “free flowing” and he believes that he also has a call to become involved in the music business.

As a child he always looked for aspirations and imagined himself in a stable position, he said.

“Getting older is a big process,” Chore said. “Being able to gather all you have learned in your life experiences and be able to use them towards your future.”

Chore knows that he is still in his prime and still has a lot to learn in school, he said, but he believes the best is yet to come.

Environmental Impact

LONG BEACH, Calif.- Today I came across associate vice president of physical planning & Facilities, Scott R. Charmack, hoping he would have information on environmental impact of the new parking structure. He provided me information about the new structure, but most of it had to do with laws that were implemented state wide for new building and some that just benefit the university financially. This included filtered storm drains that are now mandatory for multilevel parking, the decrease of energy consumption, ventilation, HID lamps, and the minimal use of fly ash. He also mentioned that they are planning to put back all the trees and landscape back, once they are finished with the project.

One thing that is obvious, their main goal is to provide parking for the students and avoid parking disturbance on the surrounding neighborhood. One way we can see how that will better the environment is how it will minimize the emission caused by the dozens of students driving around campus to look for a parking spot.

Charmack also was able to give me information on other aspects that also relate to the environmental friendly projects they have on campus. This involved a recently added campus wide controlled water sprinkler system that will help the campus save water. Also relating to that is also the waterless urinals in the bathrooms located by the lecture hall that will save 800 thousand gallons of water a year.

Revised March 8th, 2006

Photo by Luis Testa

Campus Recycle

LONG BEACH, Calif.- Recycling useful materials becomes a daily task at Cal State University Long beach, thanks to its Recycling Center on campus. The center is operated by Associated Students Incorporated and is also a state certified drop off facility. Students and faculty are putting an effort to separate reusable materials such as paper, plastic and cans from the everyday trash.

All across campus you can see waste bins with pyramid-shaped tops that become the recycled materials first stop before reaching the Center. “It feels good to know that I’m going to a campus that is putting good efforts to recycle,” Said Jr. Sociology student Maria Arias.

Trough a serious of internet research I have come to find out that not all public campuses in California have specialized center that focus on recycling like the one at CSULB. This can make any student proud to be part of long beach, knowing that it is an environmental conscious campus.